Car-coupling



(No Model.)

' W. W. PUTNAM.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 403,071. Patented May 7, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WVARREN PUTNAM, OF BLOOMER, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO G. W. SPUGLE AND J. H. RANEY, BOTH OF AUBURN, ARKANSAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,071, dated May 7, 1889. Application filed December 31, 1888. Serial No. 295,099. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WARREN PUT- NAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomer, in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this improvement is a carcoupler that will connect automatically with couplers of similar construction, that may be operated from the ground or from the top of the car for the purpose of disconnection, and that maybe used in connection with couplers of ordinary form. These results are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings herewith filed as part hereof, in which the same letters of reference denote the same parts in the different views.

Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a oar-coupler embodying the features of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with parts removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section with parts removed. Fig. 4 is a view of the link inverted. Fig. 5 is a side view of a modification of the link represented in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the parts detached. Fig. 7 is a top view of the same.

A is the draw -bar, having an ordinary bumperhead, A, recessed lateral projections A transversely-perforated vertical eX- tensions a a, and a vertically-perforated arc, a all made integral. The recessed lateral extensions A are provided with correspondingly-sized clutch-blocks B B, having curved points b b at their inner ends, and provided centrally with flared slots 17 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The transversely-perforated vertical extensions on a operate as studs or fulcrums for levers O O, pivoted thereto, as shown at c c in Figs. 1 and 2, and arranged to engage with the clutch-blocks B B through slots a in the top of the draw-bar, and flared slots b b in the clutch-blocks B B, more fully illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and '7.

D D are springs secured at their lower flanged ends by means of bolts 01 (M0 the draw-bar lateral extensions A and provided at their upper ends with flanges d, which engage with the inner edges of the levers O O and hold them in the position shown.

E is a shaft having an operating-wheel, E, and provided with a shoulder, f, below which it is extended through the perforation in the are a into a correspondingly-sized socket in the top of the draw-bar A, and is thereby supported in the position shown, which is to be additionally secured by a suitable number of staples or otherwise to the end of the car, above the top of which the shaft E is to be extended.

G G represent chains or other pliable means connecting the levers C O with the shaft E in a way that will cause the levers to move inward when the shaft E is turned in the proper direction, which will cause the clutchblocks B B to move outward.

H is a bar or link having barbed heads H provided with inclined or curved bottoms h and vertical perforations h, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. I

K is a bent link, of similar construction otherwise,

M is an ordinary link-pin, for the reception of which the draw-bar is provided with a perforation, substantially as shown by the posi tion of the pin M in Fig. 2.

Then the link H is inserted in-the drawbar, the clutch-blocks B B will be moved lat erally by contact with and passage of the linkhead between them, after which the springs D D will secure the connection by forcing the clutch-blocks back to the positions shown in Fig. 1. When the link is attached to a car moving toward another provided with a simi larly-constructed coupler, the curved bottom h of the link-head H will engage with the mouth or curved entrance A of the draw-bar, and the operation described for the clutchblocks will ensue automatically.

By reason of the perforations h in the linkheads H the pin M can be used in connection therewith for coupling purposes should the automatic mechanism become disabled; or an ordinary link could be used for coupling the mechanism with an ordinary draw-bar. The bent link K is to be used when there is adifference in the height of the cars to be connected. By reason of the shaft E the clutchblocks 13 B can be operated for uncoupling from the top of the car; or the levers C C may be adjusted from the ground by hand for the same purpose.

Having explained the construction and operation of my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

In a carcoupler, the combination, with a draw-bar A, having the head A and the recessed lateral extensions A of the clutchblocks B B, located in the recesses of said extensions, and having curved points I) b and flaring slots b the levers C C, pivoted to extensions upon the upper surface of the drawbar, the lower ends of the levers engaging the slots in the clutch-blocks, springs D D, secured at their lower ends to the lateral extensions A and engaging the upper ends of the levers C O and the vertical operatingshaft E, and the chains connecting the upper ends of the levers with said operating-shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM XVARREN PUTNAM. 

